Flexible fluid container with removable slide fastener

ABSTRACT

Flexible, re-sealable containers and systems for retaining solids, liquids, gasses or combinations thereof. Containers and related system embodiments include, in combination or in the alternative, polyethylene and polyurethane laminated panels; linear interlocking closure elements having a pair of opposed sealing members; a removable slider that include structure for accommodating varying thickness sealable closures, for progressively engaging opposing interlock portions of the sealing members of the closure, for engaging portions of a container adjacent to the closure to resist unintended separation thereof and/or engaging portions of the sealing members to provide a means for resisting tensioned separation of the slider from the container, for incorporating permanent or removable handle(s) to facilitate transportation, mounting, attaching or adapting of the container, and/or for selectively modifying the sealing pressure applied to the sealable closures during closure operations; and/or novel high strength apertures/handles that are integral with a flexible container.

This is a continuation-in-part application that claims benefit, under 35USC §120, of co-pending International Application PCT/US2008/008804,filed 18 Jul. 2008, designating the United States, which claims priorityto U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/961,116, filed on 18 Jul. 2007,which applications are incorporated herein by reference.

The invention is directed to flexible, re-sealable containers andsystems for retaining solids, liquids, gasses or combinations thereof.Embodiments of the invention comprise, in combination or in thealternative, novel laminated panels; novel sealable closures comprisinga pair of opposed sealing members; a novel removable slider that includestructure for accommodating varying thickness sealable closures, forprogressively engaging opposing interlock portions of the sealingmembers of the closure, for engaging portions of a container adjacent tothe closure to resist unintended separation thereof and/or engagingportions of the sealing members to provide a means for resistingtensioned separation of the slider from the container, for incorporatingpermanent or removable handle(s) to facilitate transportation, mounting,attaching or adapting of the container, and/or for selectively modifyingthe sealing pressure applied to the sealable closures during closureoperations; and/or novel high strength apertures/handles that areintegral with a flexible container.

For purposes of this patent, the terms “area”, “boundary”, “part”,“portion”, “surface”, “zone”, and their synonyms, equivalents and pluralforms, as may be used herein and by way of example, are intended toprovide descriptive references or landmarks with respect to the objectbeing described. These and similar or equivalent terms are not intended,nor should be inferred, to delimit or define per se elements of thereferenced object, unless specifically stated as such or facially clearfrom the several drawings and/or the context in which the term(s) is/areused.

With the foregoing in mind, embodiments of the invention directed tonovel laminated panels have at least one panel of the flexible containercomprising a laminate of at least two sheets or films (as used herein,“sheet” and “film” are used interchangeably and are intended to denote amaterial having a large surface area and relatively small sectionalthickness, such as the type typically used in the polymeric flexiblecontainer arts) wherein the first sheet comprises polyethylene (“PE”)and the second sheet comprises polyurethane (“PU”). In embodimentswherein the polyurethane sheet is bonded to the polyethylene sheet, thebonding can be accomplished by adhesives, thermal adhesion,co-extrusion, or the use of proprietary tie layer(s) between the twopolymers. In selected embodiments incorporating this feature, the PEsheet is usually exposed to an interior of the container and the PUsheet is exposed to an exterior of the container, or may be anintermediary ply if incorporated into a three or more ply laminate.

A non-exhaustive summary of the advantages of embodiments incorporatingthe polyethylene and polyurethane laminated panels is detailed in thefollowing table:

Property (PE/nylon) (PE/PU) Fatigue-related cracking — BetterFatigue-related pin holes — Better Fatigue-related — Betterdelaminations Ink adhesion Marginal Permanent Resistance to ink solventsHigh Moderate Noise (crackling sound) Significant None FlexibilityStiffer More compliant Transparency Slight opacity Clear Uniaxialtensile strength Slightly better — Biaxial (burst) strength — BetterStrain-related whitening Severe None UV resistance Good Good (withinhibitors) Puncture resistance Better — Tear-out of punched holesBetter — Freeze tolerance Good Good Tolerance to boiling water Good GoodCoefficient of friction Low High

Embodiments of the invention directed to novel flexible containershaving a two part closure system comprise a pair of opposed sealingmembers that provide means for functionally accommodating high EVAcontent panels as well as means for accepting a slider as described inmore detail below. The sealing members comprise interlock portions thatwhen in registered opposition and compressed, form a gas, fluid andsolid-tight seal but may be separated through manual displacement, suchas by a “grip and peel” action as is known in the art, e.g., ZIP-LOK®flexible containers. Each sealing member comprises a grip portion, aninterlock portion and a flange or panel portion, the latter of which isbonded to a panel of the container or forms a part thereof.

Two part closure system and commonly found in conventional flexiblecontainers of the type described above are often formed from a filmcomposition comprising linear low density polyethylene (“LLDPE”) andethylene vinyl acetate (“EVA”), with the nature of the interlock portionof such closure systems being driven by the mechanical properties of thefilm. EVA is used to provide flexibility and softness to the closurewhile LLDPE is used to provide strength and reliability to the closurewhen sealed. While increasing the content of EVA in a closure systemwould enhance its usability, existing closure systems would fail duringuse with a higher than conventional proportion of EVA. However, by usinga novel removable slider during use of containers incorporatingincreased EVA content, EVA content can exceed 30% of the closurecomposition by weight. While a preferable composition for such closuresis 50% EVA by weight, concentrations of EVA in excess of 50% arepossible and in some cases desired.

Use of a removable slider according to the invention is a preferredmeans for accommodating an increased EVA content of the sealing members,although modification to the prior art EVA content of conventionalsealing members is not necessary for the use or operation of the sliderdescribed herein. Removable slider embodiments according to theinvention provide means for restricting separation of the interlockregion of the sealing members, preferably by restricting divergence ofthe flange or panel portion thereof. This is preferably accomplished byrestricting separation of the flange/panel portion at or proximate tothe interlock portion, as described in more detail below. However, anymeans for restricting displacement between interlock portions of theclosure system is considered within the bounds of the invention.

In certain slider embodiments of the invention, an elongate slot definedby a lower wall of the slider has a lateral width equal to or greaterthan two times the sectional thickness of the flange/panel portion of asealing member, but less than the combined sectional thickness of matedsealing members at their interlock portions. The slider furthercomprises a throat, and preferably longitudinally extending cavity,defined by the slider body, wherein both the throat and the slot areaccessible from an end of the slider. Upon introduction of a closedsealing member pair into the throat and slot, a physical restraint tothe separation of flange/panel portions prior to the interlockingregions is provided by the lower wall defining the slot, and any biastending to separate the flange/panel portions adjacent to the interlockportions is resisted thereby. While it is possible to use a sliderhaving a complementary geometry to closure systems of the prior art(single step embodiments), optimal results are achieved by the preferredembodiments of the invention. For convention purposes, this region ofpinch or return portion influence is also referred to as a divergenceresistance means.

Slider embodiments of the invention may also comprise, in addition to orin the alternative, at least one laterally displaceable element tofacilitate engagement of the sealing members. The at least one laterallydisplaceable element comprises less than 50% of the total containercontacting area of the slider, and preferably less than 10%. Thelaterally displaceable element preferably comprises a hinged, interlockportion contacting tab. The distance between an internal contactingsurface of the tab (the surface that contacts the interlock region ofone sealing member) and the opposing internal surface of the slider bodyis preferably equal to the nominal thickness of a mated pair of sealingmembers at their interlock portions, thereby reducing creep potential inboth the sealing members and the slider when a closure incorporatingthis feature of the invention is in a closed position. Moreover, such atab is capable of flexing laterally outwardly to accommodate interlockportions of closures systems having a greater nominal thickness, and iscapable of receiving user biased laterally inward force to increaseclosure bias provided by the tab. In select embodiments of theinvention, two opposing tabs are used, both performing substantially thesame function. A preferred material of construction is acetal resin,which provides low friction, high stiffness, and low creep properties.In addition, acetal resin responds mechanically to temperaturevariations similarly to the preferred sealing members composition.

To enhance usability of embodiments employing at least one laterallydisplaceable element to facilitate engagement of the sealing members,the internal surface thereof may have a compound curvature: a compoundcurvature or surface progressively acts on the interlock portion of asealing member pair, i.e., during translation of the slider, a firstpart of the interlock portions is mated and then a second part is mated.This feature reduces engagement forces during the sealing process.

It should be noted that the at least one laterally displaceable elementis preferably functionally independent of the divergence resistancemeans, which is used to minimize sealing surface separation forces, aspreviously mentioned. This separation of function and physical locationpermits one to tailor both the geometry and composition of eachelement/feature for its intended purpose, and avoid functionallyundesirable compromises.

In addition to the foregoing, sliders according to the invention mayincorporate various surface features and apertures to increasefunctionality of the slider and increase the utility of any containerlinked thereto. For example, certain embodiments may include a raisedfeature adjacent to the at least one laterally displaceable element tofacilitate movement of the slider across a closure system. This raisedfeature also provides increased structural foundation for the at leastone laterally displaceable element, thereby distributing forces over alarger area, which increases longevity of the slider. In addition,various holes may be formed in the slider or extending handle interface,both for increasing functionality (structural mounting interfaces suchas for use with hanging clips commonly employed with hydrationreservoirs) as well as reducing weight.

In addition to the foregoing, the slider may be constructed with anintegral handle (either a closed aperture or a projecting arm such as a“J” or “T” handle), or provide a handle interface for receiving aremovable gripping member, as will be discussed below.

While any form of handle that is removable from the slider (or a sliderproviding removable handle means) is considered within the scope of theinvention, certain embodiments of the invention providing for aremovable handle have at least one handle receiving portion, andpreferably two handle receiving portions. In selected embodimentsthereof, a handle interface of the slider defines two lug receivingholes, preferably longitudinally displaced along the slider interface. Aflexible elongate handle, having lugs at the terminal ends thereof, isthen received by the slider. If the handle is not desired or weightconsiderations are paramount, it can be omitted and the integralapertures of certain embodiments of the slider can be solely reliedupon. Moreover, because of the generic nature of the handle receivingportions defined by the slider, different forms of handles can beadapted for use with the slider. In addition to the foregoing, the lugreceiving holes can be configured such that the mounting interface isself-energizing, i.e., the higher the handle load, the greater thesecuring force between the handle and the slider.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

FIG. 1 is a perspective partial view of a flexible fluid containerhaving an integrated spout;

FIG. 2 is a is a plan partial view of a flexible fluid container;

FIG. 3 is an end view of a prior art two part closure system having twosealing members each including a flange/panel portion, a grip portionand an interlock portion wherein one sealing member includes a step;

FIG. 4 is an end view of a two part closure system according to anembodiment of the invention having two sealing members each including aflange/panel portion, a grip portion and an interlock portion whereinboth sealing member include a step;

FIG. 5 is a cross section elevation view of the closure system of FIG. 4shown bonded to two panels of a flexible container;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a slider embodiment according to theinvention;

FIG. 7 is a front elevation view of the slider of FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is an end view, in perspective, of the slider of FIG. 6particularly detailing a throat and hinged tabs used to effectuateengagement between sealing members of a two part closure system;

FIG. 9 is a cross section bottom plan view taken along the lines 9-9 inFIG. 7 particularly detailing a cavity formed by the body side walls andupper wall;

FIG. 10 is a detailed view of the hinged tabs shown in FIG. 9 at thebody throat;

FIG. 11 is a perspective view of the slider of FIG. 6 engaged withclosure system and container of FIG. 5;

FIG. 12 is a bottom plan view of the slider of FIG. 6 particularlyillustrating a slot defined by a lower wall of the slider body;

FIG. 13 is a cross section elevation view taken along the lines 13-13 inFIG. 12;

FIG. 14 is an end elevation view, in perspective, of the slider of FIG.6 particularly detailing the slider body throat, hinged tabs and slot;and

FIG. 15 is a cross section elevation view in perspective of a systemaccording to the invention including a container having a two partclosure system according to an embodiment of the invention and a slideraccording to an embodiment of the invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION EMBODIMENTS

Preface: The terminal ends of numeric lead lines in the severaldrawings, when associated with any structure, references or landmarksdescribed in this section, are intended to representatively identifysuch structure, references or landmarks with respect to the object beingdescribed. They are not intended, nor should be inferred, to delimit ordefine per se boundaries of the referenced object, unless specificallystated as such or facially clear from the drawings and the context inwhich the term(s) is/are used. Unless specifically stated as such orfacially clear from the several drawings and the context in which theterm(s) is/are used, all words and visual aids should be given theircommon commercial and/or scientific meaning consistent with the contextof the disclosure herein.

Turning then to the several drawings, wherein like parts are numberedthe same, embodiments of the invention are shown. The inventionembodiments are directed to flexible containers of the type commonlyused for holding solids and fluids. FIGS. 1 and 2 provide representativeviews of container 20, which includes panels 22 a and 22 b, spout 24 andwelds 26. Handles or orifices 28 may be formed in the weld areas toincrease the utility of container 20.

While spout 24 provides convenient fluid ingress and egress into andfrom container 20, a larger orifice is needed with respect to manysolids, e.g., ice cubes. In this respect, a full panel opening may benecessary, which then requires the ability to fluidly seal such opening.Conventional two part closure systems have been used in the past toaccomplish this objective, and have relied upon structure the same as orsimilar to that shown in FIG. 3. While adequate for their intendedpurposes, such systems provide inadequate in certain environments andwhen constructed from non-conventional polymeric formulations.

Two part closure system 30, which is shown in FIG. 4, particularly inconjunction with slider 80 shown representatively in FIG. 6, permits oneto use optimized polymeric formulations while retaining structuralintegrity, i.e., the ability to retain fluids with out common failure.When bonded to panels 22 a and 22 b of container 20, a final result isshown in FIG. 5.

Each sealing member 32 a and 32 b, registered and opposed pairs of whichform closure system 30, comprises strip 34 with three primary portions,namely, panel portion 40, grip portion 50, and interlock portion 70. Forconvenient reference, each such portion or element for any given sealwill include the seal's suffix, i.e., “a” or “b”. Thus, interlockportion 70 a is necessarily associated with sealing member 32 a.However, when any such portion or element is referred to generically, nosuch suffix will be used.

As intimated from the chosen nomenclature, grip portion 50 of strip 34functions to provide a user with an accessible means for separating gripstrips 52 a and 52 b, and therefore interlocking portions 60 a and 60 b.To enhance the usability of grip strips 52 a and 52 b, raised featuresand/or protrusions 54 may be formed one, the other or both grip strips.Such protrusions may be formed on inner surface 36 a of strip 34 a atgrip portion 50 a, on inner surface 36 b of strip 34 b at grip portion50 b, on outer surface 38 a of strip 34 a at grip portion 50 a, on outersurface 38 b of strip 34 b at grip portion 50 b, and/or combinations ofthe above. The protrusions may be discrete, e.g., dots, bumps, and/orgeometric forms, and/or may be extended rectilinear and/or curvilinearlines. These friction enhancing means can be provided to addressgripping issues that may arise due to the presence of gloves on a user'shands, the presence of a lubricant-type substance on the user's hands,lack of dexterity of a user's hands due to extreme temperatures, andsimilar manipulation handicaps. In addition, certain forms of theseraised features and/or protrusions provide additional structuralrigidity to grip portion 50, thereby facilitating association withslider 80 as will be set forth in more detail below.

While sealing members 32 a and 32 b are shown as being strip-like andnot integral to panel 22 a or 22 b, the skilled practitioner willappreciate that sealing members 32 a and 32 b may be formed integrallywith a panel or panels during its formation, or may be separately bondedor otherwise secured to a panel in a post panel formation action, as isthe case for the illustrated example. Therefore, each respective panelportion 40 as shown in the several drawings is intended to be sealingsecured to panels 22 a and 22 b, and may be considered in thisembodiment to comprise panel portions 40 a and 40 b.

Positioned between panel portion 40 and grip portion 50 is interlockportion 60. Interlock portions 60 a and 60 b are formed to sealinglymate with each other when in registered opposition to each other andsubject to compression as is known in the art. Each interlock portioncomprises a base 62 from which extend lands 64 having heads 66 thatdefine geometrically complementary grooves 68. In the illustratedembodiment, strip 34 a at interlock portion 60 a forms base 62 a whilebase 62 b is offset from strip 34 b by offset 63 b. While presentlypreferred, the skilled practitioner will appreciate that the presence orabsence of offset 63 b or the coextensive nature of strip 34 a and base62 a at interlock portion 60 a is not necessary to the function ofproviding a fluid-tight seal between sealing members 32 a and 32 b.

The skilled practitioner will also appreciate the geometric form andasymmetry of heads 66, which beneficially resist disengagement fromcorresponding grooves when the container is a sealed state and panelportions 40 a and 40 b are displaced. The location and nature of offset63 further benefits this objective. However, such structure and geometryis not necessary to the operation of the invention embodiments, and onlyrepresent one form of expression thereof.

Located approximately at the interface between panel portion 40 andinterlock portion 60 is step 72 for each sealing member 32 a and 32 b.Steps 72 a and 72 b provide a means for displacing interlock elements 70a and 70 b from each other, thereby permitting panel portions 40 a and40 b at pinch zones 44 a and 44 b (see FIG. 5) to retain close proximityto each other when sealing members 32 a and 32 b are engaged. As will beseen below, steps 72 a and 72 b beneficially provide a means forinteraction with slider 80, enabling slider 80 to function, in additionto a means for compressively mating sealing members 32 a and 32 b, as ameans for transporting container 20 by compressively contacting bearingsurfaces 74 a and 74 b of steps 72 a and 72 b, respectively.

While the illustrated embodiment shows steps 72 as extending generallyorthogonally from panel portions 40, the skilled practitioner willappreciate that any extension angle and/or geometric form achieving thefunction of interlock element displacement to any, degree will suffice.Preferably, any such angle and/or form will also permit panel portions40 a and 40 b at pinch zones 44 a and 44 b (see FIG. 5) to retain closeproximity to each other when sealing members 32 a and 32 b are engaged.

Slider 80, which is best shown in FIGS. 6-15, is preferably constructedfrom an acetal polymeric material, which provides high strength andlongevity while also providing a light weight product. Although shown inlinear form, slider 80 may be formed with a constant radius curvature inplanar and/or compound geometry. The skilled practitioner willappreciate that any corresponding closure system will need to take suchgeometry into account.

Slider 80 performs several functions in combination with container 20,each of which may be separately exploited and/or exploited in variouscombinations, and which are considered to be within the scope of theinvention. In a non-exclusive and non-ordered listing, a first functionof slider 80 relates to its ability to progressively compress interlockportions 60 a and 60 b thereof. A second function relates to its abilityto retain panel portions 40 a and 40 b at pinch zones 44 a and 44 b inclose proximity to each other when sealing members 32 a and 32 b areengaged. A third function relates to its ability to function as acontainer carrying interface by exploiting the geometry of interlockportion 60. A fourth function relates to its ability to be fully removedfrom container 20 should a user so desire (e.g., when maximumdisplacement between sealing members 32 a and 32 b, or enhanced abilityto store or use, is desired).

Slider 80 comprises body 82 having upper portion 84, lower portion 90,ends 104 and 108, and sides 100 a and 100 b. Upper portion 84 comprisesupper wall 86 and handle interface 120 extending there from. End 108includes end wall 109, which together with upper wall 86 and sides 100 aand 100 b define body cavity 102 (see FIGS. 9, 10, 13, and 14). End 104includes throat 106, which is generally defined by upper wall 86 andsides 100 a and 100 b, as best shown in FIGS. 6, 8, 10, and 14. Lowerportion 90 includes slot 92, which is defined by lower wall 94 as bestshown in FIGS. 8, 12 and 14. In particular, side surfaces 96 a and 96 bdefine slot 92, and, as will be described in more detail below, bearagainst pinch zones 44 a and 44 b during use of container 20 to preventseparation of panels 22 a and 22 b. In addition, lower portion 90includes bearing surfaces 98 a and 98 b that, as will be described inmore detail below, provide compressive support to bearing surfaces 74 aand 74 b of steps 72 a and 72 b, respectively.

Body 82 of slider 80 further includes dynamic elements in the form ofhinged tabs 110 a and 110 b having interlock portion contacting surfaces112 a and 112 b, which when opposingly compressed by a user when sealingmembers 32 a and 32 b are present there between, operate to provide thenecessary compressive force to interlock portion 60. By translatingsealing members 32 a and 32 b there past, a user can wholly interlockthe seals. A benefit to this configuration is that seals of variousgeometries and thicknesses can be accommodated, which is not true forstatic sealing arrangements.

The skilled practitioner will of course appreciate that a hinged linkageor association with body 82 is not the only means for accomplishing adynamic compressive bias to the seals, that the illustrated locationand/or orientation of hinged tabs 110 a and 110 b on sides 100 a and 100b of body 82 is/are not exclusive (e.g., the illustrated tab orientationcould be rotated 90°, 180° or 270°, or for that matter any degree)and/or that more than one such dynamic element is required. As such, anylaterally displaceable element or elements positioned on slider 80 thatis/are able to compressively contact at least one of sealing members 32a and 32 b when operatively disposed within cavity 102 will meet therequirements of this aspect of the invention embodiment. Collectively,such (an) element(s) is/are referred to as (a) dynamic compressor(s).

A benefit to the arrangement disclosed above and equivalents thereof isthat a relatively large distance between active contacting surfaces 112a and 112 b of hinged tabs 110 a and 110 b can be maintained toaccommodate sectionally thick closures (and if provided with outwardmovement capabilities as is the case with the illustrated embodiment, upto the minimum lateral distance within cavity 102), while stillretaining the ability to functionally engage interlock portion 60 for agiven seal. Thus, slider 80 can be used in conjunction with a widevariety of closures.

The association or use of slider 80 with container 20 also provides ameans for resisting the divergence of panels 22 a and 22 b at pinch zone44 when container 20 is full or the internal pressure thereof exceedsambient/external pressure. While the geometry of interlock zone elementsattempts to mitigate the effects of this divergence, additionalresistance is provided by side surfaces 96 a and 96 b, which define slot92, through which pinch zones 44 a and 44 b extend. This divergenceresistance means is particularly useful in conjunction with containersand/or seals having a comparatively high EVA content (i.e., softerand/or compliant panels and/or seals).

As the skilled practitioner will appreciate, lower wall 94 and/or sidesurfaces 96 a and 96 b of slider body 82 need not be continuous in orderto realize the benefits to separation resistance provided by thisstructure. Segmented walls and/or surfaces can be employed and achievethe same or similar end results and are therefore considered equivalentsthereof.

Lower wall 94 of slider body 82 also may provide functionality inaddition to panel divergence resistance, namely, support of container 20against gravity (e.g., carrying, hanging, etc.). As described previous,steps 72 a and 72 b comprise bearing surfaces 74 a and 74 b thatcompressively interact with bearing surfaces 98 a and 98 b of body lowerwall 94 when slider body 82 and container 20 are in relative tension asis best shown in FIG. 15. As was the case with respect to the paneldivergence resistance means, the skilled practitioner will appreciatethat lower wall 94 and/or bearing surfaces 98 a and 98 b of slider body82 need not be continuous in order to realize the tension resistancebenefits provided by this structure. Segmented walls and/or surfaces canbe employed and achieve the same or similar end resistance to orthogonalseparation there between, and are therefore considered equivalentsthereof. As used herein, the term “orthogonal” refers to a directionsubstantially perpendicular to the direction of slider travel along thecontainer wherein a tension force is present between the slider and thecontainer.

In addition to providing means for resisting orthogonal separationbetween slider body 82 and container 20, slider 80 functions as aninterface for container carrying, hanging and the like. To this end,handle interface 120 extends from upper wall 86, and provides in theillustrated embodiment several holes and a receiving arrangement for aflexible handle (see FIGS. 6-8). By so doing, a user need not rely uponholes and other structure formed in or attached to container 20, whichmay be susceptible to tearing, peeling or other forms of structuralfailure, particularly when container 20 is large or has significantmass. Moreover, this robust means for placing or carrying container 20is removable; when not needed, slider 80 can be removed and laterre-engaged. Of course, the skilled practitioner will appreciate that anyvariety of placement and/or transporting accoutrements can be associatedwith handle interface 120, and such are not to be limited to thoseexplicitly disclosed herein.

A feature of slider 80 is its ability to receive flexible handle 122.Handle 122 comprises polymeric ribbon 124 having two end to which areattached lugs 126. In turn, lugs 126 fit in receivers 128 formed inhandle interface 120. Following the theme of presence only when desired,handle 122 can be conveniently removed and again installed as desired.

1. A flexible container for holding solids, liquids, gasses orcombinations thereof comprising: a first panel having an outer surface,an inner surface and a perimeter at the outer periphery thereof; and asecond panel having an outer surface, an inner surface and a perimeterat the outer periphery thereof wherein at least a first part of thefirst panel periphery is sealingly joined to at least a first part ofthe second panel periphery, and at least a second part of the firstpanel periphery, which includes a first part of a two part closuresystem, opposes at least a second part of the second panel periphery,which includes a second part of a two part closure system, to define asealable opening comprising a two part closure system, and wherein atleast one of the first panel inner surface or second panel inner surfacecomprises polyethylene, and at least one of the first panel or secondpanel comprises polyurethane.
 2. A flexible container according to claim1 further comprising a removable slider to removingly engage at least aportion of the two part closure system.
 3. A flexible containeraccording to claim 2 wherein the removable slider comprises a slotdefined by a lower wall sized to receive at least the two panels andprovide resistance to separation there between when linked thereto.
 4. Aflexible container according to claim 2 wherein each panel comprises apinch zone and the lower wall of the removable slider is adjacent to thepinch zones to prevent substantial divergence there between when theslider is engaged with at least one of the first and second panels orthe two part closure system.
 5. A flexible container according to claim1 wherein an orifice is formed at the first parts of the first andsecond panel peripheries.
 6. A flexible container according to claim 2wherein the slider further comprises a throat at one longitudinal endthereof defined at least in part by two sidewalls.
 7. A flexiblecontainer according to claim 2 wherein the slider further comprises acavity defined at least in part by two sidewalls.
 8. A flexiblecontainer according to claim 7 wherein the two part closure systemcomprises an interlock portion that is receivable by the slider cavity9. A flexible container according to claim 2 wherein the slidercomprises at least one laterally displaceable element having at leastone closure system contact portion.
 10. A flexible container accordingto claim 9 wherein the at least one laterally displaceable element ishingedly linked to at least one side of the slider and functionallyextends into a cavity defined by the slider.
 11. A flexible containeraccording to claim 9 wherein a distance between the at least one closuresystem contact portion of the at least one laterally displaceableelement and an opposing part of the slider, when at rest, is equal to orgreater than a section thickness of the two part closure system when ina sealed configuration.
 12. A flexible container according to claim 9wherein the at least one closure system contact portion has a compoundface so as to progressively contact one part of the two part closuresystem when the same longitudinally translates there past.
 13. Aflexible container according to claim 2 wherein the slider comprises ahandle.
 14. A flexible container according to claim 13 wherein thehandle is removable.
 15. A flexible container according to claim 13wherein the handle comprises at least one lug receivable by a portion ofthe slider.
 16. A flexible container according to claim 1 wherein thetwo part closure system comprises first and second interlock portionseach having a step adjacent to corresponding interlock elements.
 17. Aflexible container according to claim 16 further comprising a sliderhaving bearing surfaces to contact at least a portion of each step whena tension force is applied between the slider and the container.
 18. Aflexible container according to claim 3 wherein the slider lower wall isone of linear or arcuate.
 19. A flexible container according to anyclaim 1 wherein the first panel and the second panel are separate sheetsof material prior to perimeter bonding.
 20. A flexible containeraccording to claim 3 wherein the lower wall is one of continuous ordiscontinuous.